Duncan and Dzsenifer set to kick a goal in The Wave

By Glenn Davis

Trainer Gary Duncan won’t take up the option of a wild card entry for the Magic Millions Subzero if talented mare Dzsenifer kicks a goal in The TAB Wave at the Gold Coast on Saturday.

However, Duncan still plans a seven day back-up and will run Dzsenifer in the $250,000 Magic Millions Open over 1800 metres on Saturday week.

“I know the winner gets a wild card for the Subzero but I think she’s a 1400 to 1800 metre horse at the moment so the Subzero would be too far for her over 2400 metres,” Duncan said.

Dzsenifer has won four times and placed on another six occasions from 14 starts and is coming off a last start win over 1600 metres at Doomben on Boxing Day.

One of those placings was when Duncan was attempting to win the Group 3 Winx Guineas for a second time at the Sunshine Coast in July last year.

Duncan won the 2020 edition of the Winx Guineas with Wapiti but Dzsenifer was outclassed in last year’s race when beaten almost six lengths by the Mick Price and Michael Kent-trained Our Playboy.

Dzsenifer has drawn badly in barrier 13 so Duncan will leave it up to top Queensland jockey Ryan Maloney for tactics.

“I was hoping for a better draw than 13 but she’ll run well,” Duncan said.

“Ryan will have to ride her for luck from the alley but she’s in good nick and is working well.”

Dzsenifer became Duncan’s lucky charm after giving the Caloundra trainer his first winner just two weeks after suffering a heart attack at Doomben last July.

Duncan collapsed in the Doomben tie-up stalls and had to be revived before spending several days in hospital after surgery.

The aptly named Dzsenifer is a daughter of Scissor Kick and is named after German soccer star Dzsenifer Marozan.

“She ran second the day I had the heart attack at Doomben so it didn’t surprise me at all the day she won at Doomben when I was back at the races,” he said.

Duncan plans to spell Dzsenifer after her Magic Millions assignment and hopes she will measure up to the 2022 Queensland Winter Carnival.

Duncan - a former North Queensland trainer and carpenter – believes several of the Sydney raiders look the main dangers in The TAB Wave at the Gold Coast on Saturday.